Get Rid of Clothes-Eating Bugs Organically

Clothes moths and carpet beetles are common household pests that can damage fabrics and textiles. Getting rid of these clothing-eating bugs organically prevents using toxic chemicals in your home. There are several effective, eco-friendly methods to eliminate a clothes moth or carpet beetle infestation.

Identify the Culprit

The first step is determining which type of fabric pest you have. Clothes moths and carpet beetles cause similar damage, but they require different treatment methods. Here’s how to identify which one is eating your clothes:

Clothes Moths

Leave small holes in fabric with ragged edges. The holes often follow fabric threads or seams.
Look for buff-colored larvae around 1/2 inch long. They spin silken cases attached to fabric fibers.
Adults have a wingspan around 1/2 inch. They have a fuzzy, golden appearance.
Damage often starts in hidden, undisturbed places like closet corners or under furniture cushions.

Carpet Beetles

Cause damaged fabric to look worn with sparse, irregular holes.
Larvae are under 1/4 inch long with dark segments and fuzzy tufts of hair. Adults are oval-shaped bugs around 1/8 inch long.
Prefer animal-based materials like wool, silk, leather, fur, or feathers. Not usually interested in plant-based fibers like cotton or linen.
Concentrate damage in areas exposed to light like curtains or clothing. Also found under baseboards and molding.

Once you’ve identified the fabric pests in your home, you can move forward with organic treatment methods.

Isolate Infested Items

The next step is contain the infestation by isolating affected textiles. Here’s how:

Remove all clothing, linens, or other textiles showing signs of damage. Check for larvae, eggs, or adults around seams, folds, and crevices.
Place infested items in sealed plastic bags or plastic storage bins. This prevents pests from spreading while treating the items.
Inspect all clothing, fabrics, and textiles in the surrounding area for signs of damage. Remove any questionable items for isolation as well.
Concentrate on undisturbed places like closets, furniture cushions, carpets, baseboards, and shelving. Look for larvae and adults.
Washing and drying on high heat will kill all life stages of fabric pests. However, damaged items may still require mending.

Isolating infested textiles is a critical first step to prevent further damage. It also stops the bugs from spreading to other areas in your home.

Use Extreme Temperatures

Fabric pests and eggs are vulnerable to extreme temperatures. Carefully using heat or cold can kill all life stages without using pesticides:

Heat Treatment

Place isolated items in a hot dryer on high heat for 30 minutes. This kills clothes moths, carpet beetles, eggs, and larvae.
Iron fabrics on the highest setting. Concentrate on seams, folds, and crevices.
Heating infested items in an oven for 30 minutes at 120°F kills bugs without damaging fabrics. Spread items out to allow air circulation.
Use a handheld steamer on upholstery, carpets, and textiles to penetrate eggs and kill larvae.

Freezing Treatment

Place infested items in air-tight plastic bags and freeze for two weeks. Maintain temperatures below 0°F.
For bulk items like furniture cushions, use a professional deep freezer. Temperatures must be below -24°F for at least two weeks.
Use liquid CO2 from dry ice to flash freeze bugs. Vacuum up dead insects afterwards.

Heat and freezing methods provide effective control when done properly. Always monitor the condition of fabrics carefully while using temperature treatments.

Use Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth is a natural mineral dust that can eliminate cloth eating pests. Here’s how it works:

The powdery dust is abrasive and absorbs oils on insect bodies. This causes the bugs to dry out and die.
Sprinkle a fine layer in closets, dresser drawers, and carpet edges. It remains effective up to 3 months if kept dry.
Add diatomaceous earth inside fabric storage containers or plastic sealing bags.
Wear a mask while applying to avoid breathing in the dust. Use a duster tool and gently apply along baseboards, molding, and window sills. The dust must remain dry to be effective.

Diatomaceous earth is safe to use around children and pets when applied correctly. It provides chemical-free pest control with residual activity over time.

Use Essential Oils

Essential oils like lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, and tea tree oil naturally repel fabric pests. Here’s how to use them:

Add a few drops of oil onto cotton balls. Place them inside dresser drawers, closets, storage bins, etc. The strong scent drives away pests.
Mix 20 drops of oil per ounce of water in a spray bottle. Lightly mist dry fabrics focusing on infested areas. Allow surfaces to dry completely before using.
Make sachets with dried lavender or cedar chips. Place them around your home and inside clothing storage areas.
Cedar blocks, lavender sprigs, and essential oils can be used instead of traditional moth balls. Avoid moth ball chemicals, especially around children.

Refresh aromatics like sachets every few months. The strong fragrances disrupt clothes moths and carpet beetles from taking up residence in your clothing and textiles.

Use Pheromone Traps

Pheromone traps use fake sex hormones to lure and catch male moths. They prevent mating and stop females from laying new eggs. Here are some tips for using pheromone traps:

Place traps every 10-12 feet in infested areas like hallways, closets, attics, etc. Use at least one trap per room.
Position traps out of direct light in secluded areas. Adults are more active in darker locations.
For carpet beetles, use traps containing pheromones attractive to the common variety Anthrenus verbasci.
Check and clean out traps every 2-3 weeks. Replace worn or expired pheromone lures every 3 months.
Use pheromone traps continuously for best results. They are non-toxic to humans and pets.

Using pheromones is an effective tactic for controlling clothes moths organically. Traps alone may not eliminate a heavy infestation, but provide a valuable tool when used consistently.

Apply Bacillus thuringiensis

Bacillus thuringiensis or Bt is a natural bacteria that infects fabric pest larvae when eaten. When applied correctly, it provides safe biological control:

Purchase a strain targeted for use against moth larvae such as Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki or Btk.
Mix according to label instructions and apply as a fine mist or dust to carpets, baseboards, closets, and other larval hiding spots.
Bt must be eaten by larvae to be effective. Focus application on areas with known activity.
Reapply every 7-10 days while larvae are actively feeding. Bt breaks down quickly in sunlight.
Bt is non-toxic to humans but may irritate skin or eyes. Avoid inhaling dust or mists.

Bt insecticide gives larvae a fatal infection when used properly. It provides residue-free pest control and is safe to use around children and pets.

Use Beneficial Insects

Releasing beneficial insects can provide natural biological control of fabric pests:

Predatory gall midges (Feltiella acarisuga) feed on clothes moth eggs and larvae. Release every 2-3 weeks during peak pest activity.
The parasitic wasp (Habrobracon hebetor) lays eggs inside larvae. The young wasps destroy the host when they emerge.
Predatory carpet beetles (Anthrenus verbasci) only eat fabric pest larvae like clothes moths. They won’t damage fabrics or textiles.
Always purchase beneficials from a reputable commercial insectary. Follow release rates according to square footage.
Monitor for pest reduction and make supplemental releases as needed. Stop releasing when fabric damage subsides.

Enlisting predatory insects to hunt fabric pests provides an eco-friendly level of control. Their appetite for clothes moths and carpet beetles can significantly reduce infestations over time.

Maintain Proper Sanitation

Fabric pests thrive in cluttered, dirty conditions. Practicing good sanitation helps make your home less inviting:

Regularly vacuum carpets, furniture, baseboards, vents, and other areas where larvae congregate. Use crevice tools to penetrate deep into upholstery.
Eliminate clutter in closets, storage areas, and under furniture. Crowded spaces encourage pest problems.
Frequently launder or dry clean garments, linens, blankets, towels, and other items. Wash on the hottest water setting appropriate for the fabric.
Clean wardrobes, dressers, and storage chests inside and out to remove hair, debris, and dust where eggs hide.
Mend or discard items beyond repair to eliminate food sources. Properly seal garbage containing damaged fabrics.
Reduce humidity below 50% in problem areas. Dehumidifiers make conditions less favorable for pests.

Consistent cleaning removes the hair, skin flakes, and other debris these insects need to survive. Proper sanitation lowers the resources available to sustain an infestation.

Make Your Home Inhospitable

There are some additional tips that can make your home less inviting to fabric pests:

Seal cracks around baseboards, moldings, window sills, and door frames. This removes hiding spots and drafts where pests enter.
Install door sweeps underneath exterior doors adjoining infested rooms. This blocks migration to other areas.
Use sheer fabric covers or clear plastic boxes to store off-season clothing. It allows you to monitor for new damage while preventing moths inside.
Boxes of borax detergent have residual pest-repelling properties when left open in infested areas. Just keep borax away from children and pets.
Hang garments in your closet instead of folded in drawers. This removes crevices where eggs and larvae hide. Regularly groom hangers to remove hair and debris.
Consider storing coats or heirloom textiles at a professional storage facility. Maintaining climate control and proper sanitation helps protect delicate fabrics.

Altering conditions around your home to become less suitable for fabric pests creates an unfavorable environment that repels infestations long term.

When to Call a Professional

Severe fabric pest infestations may require professional pest control. Consider calling in an exterminator if:

The infestation has spread to multiple rooms over a large area.
Valuable antique textiles, rugs, or tapestries are involved. Treatment requires specialized care.
You rent an apartment with onboarding pests from previous tenants. Landlord involvement may be required to address all units.
Time constraints prevent you from properly implementing control measures. Professionals can provide expedited removal.
Infested items require fumigation. This involves strictly regulated, potentially hazardous chemicals only available to licensed applicators.
You have health issues like asthma or chemical sensitivities. Licensed pros can use containment techniques to prevent exposure during treatment.

While organic options are ideal, extensive fabric pest damage may call for professional pesticide treatment. Always vet reputable companies that emphasize integrated pest management and strive to minimize reliance on harsh chemicals. With vigilance and persistence, you can rid your home of clothes-eating bugs without endangering your family.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do clothes moth larvae eat?

Clothes moth larvae eat a variety of natural, animal-based fibers like wool, silk, fur, or feathers. They do not eat synthetic fibers or plant-based cotton and linen. They chew through fabric to access these materials leaving small holes filled with frass.

What temperature kills clothes moths?

Exposing clothes moths and their larvae to temperatures of 120°F or above for 30 minutes will kill all life stages. Lower temperatures around 104°F for an hour are also effective. Take care not to damage delicate fabrics.

Do cedar blocks really keep moths away?

Yes, cedar blocks release aroma compounds called cedrol that naturally repel fabric pests. Place blocks in closets, drawers, and storage chests to drive moths away without chemicals. Refresh blocks yearly as the scent fades.

What scent repels moths naturally?

Essential oils derived from herbs like lavender, mint, citrus, and pine have aromas that deter moths. Place cotton balls with oils in confined storage spaces or hang herb sachets in closets. Replenish aromatics regularly as scents dissipate over time.

What natural oil kills carpet beetles?

Essential oils can kill adult carpet beetles through contact and fumigation effects. Tea tree, eucalyptus, lavender, and citrus oils have proven efficacy. Apply a few drops to cotton balls and place throughout infested areas of the home. Oils deter egg laying and larval development.

Does vinegar kill carpet beetle larvae?

Yes, white vinegar is an effective organic treatment against carpet beetle larvae. Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray carpets, baseboards, furniture, and other known larval hideouts. Vinegar disrupts larval development and deters adults.

Conclusion

Eliminating fabric pests without chemicals requires diligence. Isolate and treat all infested items while cleaning your home from top to bottom. Maintain strict sanitation practices going forward to discourage re-infestation. Monitor for signs of activity and immediately isolate any newfound bugs. With a watchful eye and consistent organic treatment methods, you can successfully evict clothes-eating pests from your home for good.